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Fire Bugs

The Littlest Offenders

What Response Is Appropriate?

Fire or police department. Juvenile probation or state's attorney's office. When a juvenile is suspected of starting a fire, representatives from some or all of these agencies may be called.

According to authorities, the appropriate response to a child's fire is determined after looking at several issues, including the extent of the fire, the intent of the child and that child's age and past behavior.

"As far as disposition, we have a wide variety of avenues to pursue-everything from leaving the parents to handle the situation to referral to juvenile court," explained detective Russ Wolf of the Naperville Police Department. Wolf, a juvenile officer, said incidents range from accidentally starting a minor fire to repeated, intentional fire setting that leaves sizable damage.

"The kids who are going to the (Juvenile) Firesetters program are those playing with matches where they're at best reckless and at worst intentionally setting a fire," Wolf noted. And although it may be the fire department that is first on the scene, when it appears to be a deliberate fire, the follow-up investigation and subsequent handling of the case are left to police.

Juveniles may be required to attend Juvenile Firesetters as part of an informal probation. Explained Wolf: "We give him that opportunity the first time he gets in trouble. We'll say, `You do what I say to get yourself some education and help on this issue or I'm gonna send you to court."' If the fire setter refuses or fails to complete what's ordered or there is an additional incident, he said, then juvenile court may be the next step.